James i



' J. i. BARD.

Fireplace Back.

No. 99,748. r Patented Feb. 15,1870.

wifinassegsxi nits tetra mat JAMES LBARDfOF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

Letters Patent No. 99,748, dated February 15, 1870.

FIRE-PLACE BACK.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thename i'netallicfire-place back and jams combined in one single piece andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing,making a part of this specification.

My object, in the creation of my invention, is to provide a back forgrates in all kinds of fire-places which will be exempt from liabilityto injury and destruction under any ordinary circumstances, and hence toavoid alike the expense and the necessity of frequent renewals, orrepairs of the same, which now follows, as a matter of course, from thefact that such backs are made of bricks and moltar or cement, or of someother equally objectionable material; and furthermore, so to make thesaid back that it may be incorporated in the chimney or fire-place, asthe same is being originally constructed, or be afterwards introducedtherein without the slightest difficulty, and in such a manner,moreover, as that it will radiate and throw out all the heat absorbed byit intothe room or chamber to be warmed.

My invention is anew article of manufacture, strict-' ly so to'speak;and 1 It consists of a cast-iron grate-back of peculiar formation thatis provided with 'a'square opening at its bottom for the convenienthestowal of the ashes in a recess in the chimney behind the'same, andflanked on both its sides by projecting front ledges to serve as jams tocoverand protect the brick-work on the sides ofthe fire-place.

. But my invention will be better understood by referring to'thedrawing, which presents a perspective view of it as it appears in adetached state, or before itis applied to a fire-place, the form thusshown being the one in which I prefer to make it.

Itwill be observed on inspecting the drawing that my invention consistsof a single or solid piece or casting, in which there is a back and twoside projections, there being in the lower part of the back a squareopening designed to lead into an open .space for the convenient bestowalof the ashes behind the same.

This opening is designated by the letter D on the drawing.

The back portion of the casting, or rather that portion of it whichconstitutes the grate-back proper, and which is marked A, is perfect] ystraight in its vertical lines as high up as the top of the grate, or insome cases even higher, whilst in its upper part or section its form isthat of two reverse curves, as shown at B and 0, when viewedtransversely, so that it may be said to be not very dissimilar. in thissection to an elongated letter S, in its cross-sections from the frontto the. rear.

This configuration of the back forces the flame coming up from thegrate, which latter we may suppose may occupy about one-third of thespace from thebot- I tom of the back upwardly, considerably in front ofthe throat of the flue or chimney through which it passes. in itsascent, and thereby increases the draft up the chimney and the radiationof the heat, as well as its direct and positive effect within the roomin which the fire-place is. situated.

The recess behind the opening D in the back not only afi'ords a place ofdeposit for the ashes, &o., until it be convenient to remove them, butit also effectually prevents the floating ashes from finding their wayout of the fire-place and into the room, and hence avoids an evil whichis incident to all grate fire-places, as at present constructed, withwhich I am acquainted.

From each side edge of the back A project the ledges E E, either atright angles, as shown, or ohliquely, so as to present flaring surfacesin reverse direction to each other for the better reflection andradiation of all the heat absorbed by the device into the room, or fromthe fire-place.

A grate may be connected with my invention in any usual and propermanner, and if necessary a suitable hook may be cast at the properpointjust above the top of the opening D, in the centre of the back A,for holding the grate steadily in position, in the usual man ner inwhich this is done. l

My invention may be put in its place whilst the chimney in which it isto be introduced is being made, or it may be inserted afterwards withequal facility.

It may be manufactured as cheaply as any rough casting, and be varied inits dimensions, so as to beadapted to chimneys and fire-places of anyand all sizes. 1

Being of cast-iron, it absorbs, retains, and radiates heat far morepowerfully than tire-places in which the backs and jams are made ofbricks or cement, and

hence will economize to a very great extent the fuel required to producea given measure or amount of heat for any given length of time. Butbeyond ail these' advantages it provides a grate-back which will lastin.-

definitely, without ever wanting the slightest repair.

Having thus described myinvention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat- Vitnesses:

Run US R. RHODES, H. N. J ENKINS.

